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| Abashiri |
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| Memanbetsu |
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| Bihoro |
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| Sapporo |
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Location and general information
The 5th USD Symposium will be located on the Okhotsk coast of Hokkaido, the northmost and second largest island in Japan. Hokkaido has unspoiled nature; mountains including VERY active volcanoes, forests, lakes and rivers, all full of its indigenous animals and plants. Except the southwestern cost close to Honshu (Main Island), the whole island had been inhabited only by several tens of thousands of Ainu people before 20th century.
Symposium venue Hotel Abashiri-ko-so is situated on the beautiful lakeside of Abashiri-ko, in the suburbs of Abashiri. The city is best known for Abashiri Prison, which had incarcerated political prisoners -- many had lost their lives while building roads through unexplored wild Hokkaido -- and later became a stage for many movies. It is also the touristic center for those who visit the least-trodden Shiretoko, which is recently registered as a world natural heritage.
(To Clickable Map of Eastern Hokkaido)
How to Get There (see Mapion)
By Airplane
Take an airplane to Memanbetsu airport, located on the outskirts of Abashiri. There will be 6 flights from Haneda (Tokyo), 4 from Chitose (Sapporo), 2 from Kansai (Osaka), and 1 from Nagoya international airports everyday in May 2006.Take a local bus from Memanbetsu airport to the direction of central Abashiri. Get off at the bus stop Abashiri-ko-so, which is directly in front of the hotel. The bus trip will take you 20 minutes and JP¥ 590. The bus service is scheduled on each airplane's arrival.
Caution!: Don't confuse Memanbetsu airport with Monbetsu airport. The latter is 2 h drive from Abashiri.
Note: those who travel from abroad via Tokyo may have to change airports from Narita to Haneda, which limousine-buses connect directly. The bus service will take you 75 min. and JP¥ 3,000.
By Train
Take a JR train to Abashiri station. There are 5 express services from Sapporo everyday (5h20m, JPY 9,640). Take a local bus to the direction of Bihoro . Get off at the bus stop Abashiri-ko-so, which is directly in front of the hotel. The bus trip will take you 10 minutes.
By Bus
There are frequent bus services connecting Sapporo, Kitami and Abashiri.By Car (see Mapion)
From central Abashiri, take Route 39 to the direction of Bihoro. In 10 min, you will find Abashiri-ko-so on your right on the lakeshore of Abashiri-ko.From Memambetsu airport, take R39 to the direction of Abashiri. In 20 min, you will find Abashiri-ko-so on your left on the lakeshore of Abashiri-ko.
Contact address: usd5@nims.go.jp